Folding door construction for wide doorways



Nov. 10, 1953 F, A. GUTH ET AL FOLDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR WIDE DOORWAYS 7 Sheet s-Sheet Filed March 10, 1950 FIG. 5

I. ll? v k Nov. 10, 1953 F. A. GUTH ET AL FOLDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR WIDE DOORWAYS '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 10, 1950 mrnerd Nov. 10, 1953 F. A. GUTH ET AL FOLDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR WIDE DOORWAYS 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 10, 1950 W E m Q R Nb. UHU n Nov. 10, 1953 F. A. GUTH ET AL FOLDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR WIDE DOORWAYS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 10, 1950 Nkk F12 G'uffi BY fli'ufiz ATTORNEY WAGE Nov. 10, 1953 F. A. GUTH ET AL FOLDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR wins DOORWAYS 7 sheets-sheet 5 Filed March 10, 1950 INVENTORS ATTORNEY Nov. 10, 1953 F. A. GUTH ET AL Filed March 10. 1950 FOLDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR WIDE DOORWAYS '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 m2 m5 F|E.d5 I04 27 'INVENTORS 624% B HFGuZfi ATTORNEY Nov. 10, 1953 RA, GUTH ET AL 2,658,571

FOLDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR WIDE DOORWAYS Filed March 10, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Flt-LED Flllfi 67 46 47 57 84 FIE-1.51

ATTOR N EY Patented Nov. 10, 1953 FOLDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR WIDE DOORWAYS Frederick A. Guth, Waverly, Ohio, and Harold F. Guth, Memphis, Tenn.

Application March 10, 1950, Serial No. 148,898

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in door construction and, more particularly, to folding doors of the type composed of a multiplicity of rigid panels capable of being moved between relatively extended positions of doorway closure and collapsed or folded position of doorway opening.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction in folding doors adapting the latter for use in the opening and closing of doorways possessing considerable area or expanse, such as those found in the construction of aircraft storage buildings or hangars.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved means for supporting the panels of folding doors, whereby to facilitate movement thereof between positions of doorway opening and closure.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel operating means for imparting movement to folding doors in causing the same to be disposed in various operating positions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a folding door construction suitable for application to doorways of large expanse, and wherein power actuated mechanisms are used for imparting opening and closing travel to the several panel members of the door.

For a further understanding of the invention, including additional objects and advantages thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an airplane hangar or other building having a door way closed by the sliding door construction constituting the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through the door construction on a plane indicated by the line 2-4 of Fig. l;

, Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary rear elevational view of the parts of the door construction shown in the upper half of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal sectional view on the plane disclosed by the line 4-4 of Fig. 2

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through our improved door construction on the plane indicated by the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the improved door construction on the plane disclosed by the line 6-6 of Fig. 1. In this figure the panel members of the door construction are disclosed in their extended or active positions of doorway closure;

Fig. 7 is a similar view disclosing the panel 2 members when positioned to partially open an associated doorway;

Fig. 8 is a similar view disclosing the panel sections or members of the doorway when fully collapsed or folded to provide for maximum doorway opening;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail plan view of a plurality of the door panels, disclosing the same on a larger scale, and illustrating one of the associated cradle brackets in horizontal sections;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail View partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section disclosing the door panels in their folded position providing for maximum doorway opening, and illustrating in association with the panels one of the cradle brackets with which the power-actuated cable mechanism is associated for the purpose of furnishing mechanical power to open and close the door construction;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the construction disclosed in Fig. 10 on the plane indicated by the line llll of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a detail elevational view of the drive motor and cable-spooling mechanism used in operating the door panels;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View taken through a plurality of adjoining panel members and illustrating the sliding means for linking said panel members together for joint movement between positions of doorway opening and closure;

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view taken through our improved door construction on the plane disclosed by the line I l-4 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a detail sectional View through one of the door-linking devices on the plane disclosed by the line l5-l5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is an elevational view looking toward the rear surfaces of said panel members;

Fig. 17 is a detail top plan view of a pair of modified panel members, disclosing the same in partially open positions;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 17 but showing the panel members in their positions of full doorway closure in which said members are disclosed in the same aligned vertical plane without their adjoining edges overlapping;

Fig. 19 is a detail transverse sectional view taken through the trolley pit of our improved door mechanism and disclosing the bottom of the pit provided with cleaning chains;

Fig. 20 is a detail view disclosing in front elevation one of the grooved track-engaging and supporting wheels of a panel member, and wherein the wheel-carrying yoke is provided with a means for scraping and cleaning the track rail on which the wheel operates;

Fig. 21 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2 |2l of Fig.

Fig. 22 is a detail elevational view disclosing the panel-carrying track wheels provided with associated spring pressed track-cleaning shoes;

Fig. 23 is a horizontal sectional view disclosing the panel members of the door construction positioned in a wall-formed recess and disclosing said panel members when the same are folded to assume positions in said recess of doorway openmg;

Fig. 24 is a detail rear elevational view of a modified form of panel member used in our improved door construction;

Fig. 25 is a similar view disclosing a pair of the panel members of the type shown in Fig. 24 and wherein said members carry roller-equipped cradle brackets;

Fig. 26 is an enlarged elevational view disclosing the lower part of one of the cradle bracket panel members of Fig. 25 and showing the supporting track-engaging rollers carried thereby;

Fig. 27 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through the construction on the line 21-21 of Fig. 26;

Fig. 28 is a diagrammatic view disclosing the operating cables employed in imparting move- 9 ment to the door panels disclosed in Figs. 24 through 27 Fig. 29 is a detail elevational view of the motoractuated cable-spooling drum and illustrating circuit-controlling switches employed in association with said drum;

Fig. 30 is a sectional view taken on the plane disclosed by the line 3030 of Fig. 29;

Fig. 31 is an elevational view of a cable-anchoring and stretching device employed in connection with the panel-operating cables of the present invention;

Fig. 32 is a top plan view of the device disclosed in Fig. 31;

Fig. 33 is a plan view of a further modified arrangement of the folding door panels and their associated operating means. In this figure, the panels are disclosed in their aligned positions of doorway closure;

Fig. 34 is a top plan view of the mechanism of Fig. 33 but disclosing the door panels in positions partially opening an associated doorway.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, especially to the form thereof disclosed in Figs. 1 to 16, inclusive, the numeral l designates the front wall of a building, such, for example, as buildings employed for airplane servicing or storage. Such a building customarily includes a doorway 2 of relatively extended area, the same having a wide span in order to provide for the passage therethrough of airplanes of various sizes. Because of the relatively large size of such doorways, the prior art has met with considerable diniculty in producing door constructions possessing the necessary mechanical strength to withstand wind pressures and other forms of loading, and yet capable of being readily moved between positions opening and closing such doorways. The present invention aims particularly to provide such a door construction, and in meeting the problems presented, we have provided a door construction in which is embodied a multiplicity of rigid panel members or sections, the latter being indicated in their entirety by the numeral 3.

Each of these panels or sections possesses pref- 'tionary box rail or beam H.

erably a rectangular configuration and, in operation, is adapted to occupy a vertical plane. Advantageously, the panel members or sections may be formed to include an interior framing 4, preferably of light metallic channel members, the same being suitably joined to present a rigid as sembly. Applied over and secured to this interior framing are outer sheets 5 which, in association with the inner framing, produce light weight but mechanically strong door members.

A multiplicity of these door members or panels are used by the present invention for opening and closing the doorway indicated at 2 in the drawings. Preferably the panels are arranged in groups; two groups being employed in the closing of a normal doorway, the panels of one group moving toward the right of the building, as depicted in Fig. 1, in opening the doorway, while the second group of panels moves toward the left of the doorway. It will be understood however that when an associated doorway is of limited width or span, a single group of panels only needs be employed.

In this instance, the inner panel member of each group, designated at 3a, that is, the panel member disposed immediately adjacent to vertical side wall 6 of the building, is pivotally mounted in connection with said wall by being provided with stationary ears 1 on its outer or front surface. Connected with the ears I are the outer ends of cranks 8, the inner ends of said cranks being formed with the upper and lower ends of a vertical rod 9, which is turnably mounted in stationary brackets I0 carried by the wall 6 adjacent to the inner vertical edges of the associated panel member 3a. By this arrangement, as shown more particularly in Figs. 6 to 8 of the drawings, the door panels are linked to the sides of the door opening of the building, so that the door panels are movably held in association with the building.

Along the top of the doorway 2, the latter is provided with a longitudinally extending sta- The bottom of this rail or beam is formed with a longitudinally extending slot I2, which receives vertical rollercarrying studs I3, one of which projects upwardly and rigidly from the center of the upper horizontal edge of each of the panel members. Preterably, the stud I3 of each panel member is mounted on a bracket I 4 which straddles the upper edge of the associated panel member, and which bracket constitutes a rigid component part of the panel member carrying the same. Within the beam or rail ll, each of the studs 13 is equipped with a guide roller IS, the latter being horizontally arranged with its peripheral portions in engagement with the inner surfaces of the vertical legs or sides of the rail H. The rollers l5 thus act to guide the panel members during their movement longitudinally along the top beam or rail, and by being disposed in the center of the panel members, the pivoting and guiding construction enables the panel members to turn about vertical axes, so that said panel members when actively positioned, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, will be disposed in extended relative order; with their vertical edge portions only overlapping. When inactively positioned or folded, the panel members will, as a result of their construction, lie side by side, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings and transversely of the doorway, in order that said panel members will take up as little room as possible when the doorway is fully opened. If desired, and as shown in Fig. 23, the

buildings side wall 6 may be vertically recessed as at [6, so that the folded panels will be positioned entirely within the lateral limits of the recesses and, therefore, will offer no obstruction to the doorway proper.

To support the lower edges of the door panels, and to provide for their convenient movement when being opened and closed, there is formed in the building floor or foundation i1 beneath the doorway a longitudinally extending pit 58. Preferably this pit is provided with a lining IS and at the bottom thereof is formed with drain passages 28 for the escape of moisture and other foreign matter. The top of the pit is closed in part by a horizontally disposed plate 2|, which is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 22 for the reception of vertically carried depending panel studs 23, the latter projecting downwardly from the central portion of the lower edge of each of the panel members in vertical registry with the upper studs l3.

The upper portions of the studs 23 are mounted for turning movement in socketed members 24 carried interiorly of the door panels. Below the plate 2!, each of the studs 23 is equipped with a horizontal roller 25, the peripheral portion of each of the latter being adapted to engage the sides of the metallic lining I9 of the pit 18, whereby to offer guidance to the door panels as the latter are being moved between their positions of doorway opening and closure. Below the rollers 25, each of these studs 23 includes a yoke 26, in which is rotatably received a grooved track-engaging wheel 21. The grooved tread of each of these wheels engages with the head of a stationary track rail 28 mounted longitudinally in the bottom of the pit It. The weight of the door panels is thus applied to the rail 28, but through the wheels 2'! and the rollers and Z5, antifriction means are presented by which the movement of the door panels is facilitated, so that a minimum of power need be employed in the actuation of the doors. The slot 22 in the plate 2| may be closed by means of flexible sealing strips 29, which close the slot 22 except for the regions of said strips engaged by the depending studs 23. The door panels are thus enabled to turn about vertical axes provided by the roller-equipped studs l3 and 23, enabling said door panels to occupy extended and slightly overlapping positions of doorway closure, in which the panels are disposed in but slightly angular relationship to the vertical plane of the doorway opening, as shown in Fig. 6. From such extended positions or order, the panels may be flatly folded to extend substantially transversely of the doorway opening, as shown in Fig. 8. The upper edges of the door panels may be provided with upright vertical stop devices 526, which engage with the outer surfaces of the beam or rail H, whereby to limit swinging movement of the door panels in an inward direction.

To join the door panels of each group together, so that the same may be operated substantially in unison, reference is to be had to the construction disclosed more particularly in Figs. 13 to 15 of the drawings. In these figures, it will be noted that each of the panel members is provided, with the exception of the panel with a depending stud 34, which is adapted to be positioned in an opening provided in a laterally projecting ear 35, the latter being formed with a runner member 36 movable longitudinally across the back of each of the panel members,

said runner members being arranged in enclosed longitudinally extending boxings or guideways 31. The back of each of these boxings or guideways is formed with a slot 38 through which the ear of the associated runner member projects for connection with the link 33.

As will be explained presently, in opening the doorway 2, power is first applied to the outermost door panel of a given group, the power applied being such as to move the outermost panel toward the vertical wall 5 of the build ing. Due to the sliding movement of the runner member in the panel member carrying the same, the next adjacent and outer panel member linked with the runner member is permitted to move freely and substantially by itself. Such free and independent movement of the outer panel member takes place until the runner member 36 associated therewith contacts a resilient abutment or hump 39, which is formed on the outer end of a leaf spring or other equivalent element 40, the latter being mounted within the hollow interior of said panel members.

Adjustable means, accessible from the exterior of said panel members, and indicated by the numeral 4! are provided for adjusting the degree of flexibility of the springs 40 and the yieldability of the abutment or hump 39 carried thereby. The resistance of the hump-carrying portion of each of the springs to the sliding contact of an associated runner member is such as to cause the hump to act temporarily at least as a stop device. Thus, as an outer panel member moves by itself, such movement is allowed to take place until the runner member linked with the freely moving panel member contacts the hump 39. The resistance offered by this hump or movable abutment to the runner member, supplemented by the frictional holding engagement offered by rubber contact strips 42, is such as to then cause both panel members, that is, the initially moving panel member and the panel member carrying the runner element to move together. This action is repeated on the third and following panel members, until all the panel members are moving in unison with each other, a condition which occurs when the door panels are about finally located in their folded door-opening positions.

The contact or buffer strips 42, which preferably are of rubber, plastic composition. wood or other materials admitting of sliding action with the required amount of friction, are applied to the front and rear surfaces of the door panels and extend transversely thereof. as shown in Figs. 14 and 16. These strips cause the panels to move together between positions of door opening and closure and keep the panels from being injured by each other during such relative movement.

The strips 42 applied to the inner surfaces of the door panel members, as shown in Fig. 14, are wider or thicker than the mating strips applied to the outer surfaces of adjacent doors, the inthickness of the strips on the inner surfaces of the doors being necessary because of the inclusion of the runner member guides 31.

To impart movement to the panel sections or members in the opening and closing of the doorway 2, we preferably employ a cable-actuated means, the latter being more fully illustrated in Figs. 10 to 12, inclusive, of the drawings. In these figures, it will be noted that the outermost panel member of each group of said members has hinged thereto as at 43 for turning movement horizontally a cradle bracket 44. The cradle bracket maintains its position in a vertical plane and parallel with the box rail or guide casing H at all times, regardless of the turning movement of the panel members about their vertical axes. The top of each panel member is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced, inwardly extending, horizontal studs 45, the latter projecting through a slot 46 formed longitudinally in a second guide casing section or box rail 41, the latter being secured to the under side of the top of the doorway in stationary parallel order with the outer box rail II. Mounted on the inner ends of the studs 45 are rollers as, which are disposed within the interior of the rail 41 in engagement with the bottom wall of said last-named rail.

Connected with one of the studs 45 is one end of a cable 45. The length 50 of this cable extends from the innermost of the studs 45, as viewed in Fig. 11, to a guide sheave 51, which is carried by brackets arranged on the outside of the building wall 6. From the sheave 5|, the cable is trained downwardly to provide the length disclosed at 52, the cable then being wound as at 53 around a spooling drum 54 to which the cable is attached. From the drum 54, the other side of the cable extends upwardly to produce the length disclosed at 55, and is then trained around the guide sheave 5i and forwardly through the box rail 41 to produce the length disclosed at 56. At its forward end, the length 55 of the cable is trained around a guide pulley 51 mounted on the interior of the box rail 47, the same being then directed rearwardly and longitudinally as at 58 for attachment to the forward or outermost of the studs 45 of the associated cradle bracket.

The spooling drum 54 is carried by a motor shaft 59 which is coupled with or forms a part of an electric or other motor 60. In this instance, said motor has been shown as being mounted on a supporting bracket 6|, which is secured to the building wall 6. The shaft 59 is threaded as at 62 in order that it may be received within. a correspondingly threaded axial bore provided in the spooling drum 54, whereby to provide for a regulated and level winding and unwinding of the cable 49 about the outer periphery of the drum, maintaining the cable in proper registration with the sheave or sheaves shown at 5!. Also, the movement of the drum on the threaded shaft is utilized for motor control. Thus, when the drum approaches the end extremes of its movement, the same will engage with spaced control switches 63 when the motor 60 is of the electrical type, whereby to stop automatically the operation of said motor. The latter preferably is of the reversible type, having its operations governed by a manual switch for starting the same and causing rotation of its armature in a desired direction, thereby enabling the door panels to be moved between dooropening and closing positions as desired.

In view of the foregoing, it is believed to be obvious that the present invention provides mechanism by which the objects and advantages of the invention are achieved. The mechanism possesses the advantage of structural simplicity, ease and convenience in operation and control, and also is capable of withstanding hard usage diagonally extending abutting edges 65.

and stress loadings without mechanical failure.

As usual, in mechanisms of this relative complexity and magnitude, the constructional features of the door mechanism may be widely varied or modified. While it is obviously impossible to illustrate and describe within the practical limits of this specification, many of the desirable forms or modifications of our improved construction, nevertheless, in the accompanying drawings, we have set forth certain additional exemplary mechanisms useful in indicating certain typical structural variations falling within the scope of the invention.

For example, in Figs. 17 and 18, door panels have been indicated by the numeral 64, which panels are of the same general construction as that employed in producing the panel or door members 3. The door panels 64 are constructed so that when the same occupy positions of doorway closure, as in Fig. 18, all the panels will be disposed in the same vertical plane, rather than in the angular offset relation of the panels shown in Fig. 6. In order to cause the panels 54 to align edge to edge in a common vertical plane, as in Fig. 18, the said panels 64 are formed with The panels contiguous to said edges are united by means of pivoted links 66. Each of these links occupies a fixed pivotal position 61 on one of the panels and is joined as at 68 with a runner element 69, the latter being slidably mounted in a guideway 10 formed in connection with a companion door panel. The door panels 54 turn, as do the panels 3, about vertical axes indicated at H. It will be noted that the forward end of the guideway 10 is curved as at 12 so that it extends adjacent to the beveled edges 65. By being curved at 12, the runner elements may be moved in the guideway 10 to an extreme forward position beyond that obtained by the construction disclosed in Fig. 13, thus causing the vertical plane registry of the door panels.

In Fig. 19, there is illustrated a construction for removing debris from the pit I8. Such removal may be accomplished by providing the bottom of the pit at each side of the track rail 28 with endless chains 13 carrying flights 14, the chain 13 passing around suitable driven sprockets I5 situated in the pit 18. The movement of the chain 13 and the flight 14 thereof enables foreign bodies, which may become trapped or otherwise deposited in the pit to be advanced longitudinally of the pit by the chain flights to suitable points of discharge, such as the enlarged passages 20.

In Figs. 20 and 21 of the drawings, a scraper element 15 is shown as being mounted for limited vertical movement on the yoke 26 carrying the track-engaging wheel 21. The element 16 includes desirably side plates 11 arranged on opposite sides of the yoke, the said side plates having elongated slots 18 which receive therein the ends of the wheel axles carried by the yoke 26. The plates 1'! are extended at their ends to include track-engaging scraper blades '19, by means of which ice or other deposits which may be present on the rail 28 can be removed so that the same Will not impede the free rolling action of the door assembly. In Fig. 22, similar trackengaging scraper elements are shown. In this form of our invention, the scraper elements carry guided stems 8| which cooperate with coil springs 82, employed in positively maintaining the scraper elements in contact with the track rail 28, the latter in this instance being preferably mounted on the upper surface of a floor, rather than being arranged in a trough or pit formed on the floor as previously set forth.

In Figs. 31 and 32, an appliance has been shown at 83 for effecting the guided and adjustable support of the cable 49. This appliance may be disposed in the box rail t7, and includes an adjustable block 84, which rotatably carries the guide pulley 51 or its equivalent. The position of the block 84 in the rail 47 may be regulated to apply tension to the cable 59 by the pressure of a bolt 85. This bolt is formed at one end with a hook 86, which is receivable in an eye 8"! formed with the block 84. The outer threaded end of the bolt projects through a closed end of the rail 4'! and is equipped with an adjusting and binding nut 88. By tightening the nut 88, it will be manifest that sufiicient sliding movement may be imparted to the block 84 to draw the cable around the pull y 51, and place the cable under required tension to permit of its most efficient operation in imparting movement to the associated door panels, eliminating undesired slack.

In still another form of our invention, as disclosed in Figs. 33 and 34, the door panels 39 have their adjoining edges hingedly united as at ill. The upper and lower edges of these door panels are equipped with pivot posts 92 which are movable in longitudinal slots 93 provided in stationary guides 94. Connected with the pivot posts 92 carried by the outermost of the panels is a crank arm 95, the outer end of this crank arm having secured thereto an intermediate portion of the cable shown at Ma. It will be seen that when the cable 49a is pulled to the right of Fig.

34, the operational result is to turn the crank arm 95 and the door panels associated therewith, causing said panels to assume a relatively angular position indicated in Fig. 34. Continued pull to the right on the cable 49a causes the door panels 99 to become folded in the parallel side by side relationship after the manner of the door panels illustrated in Figs. 8 and 23.

Still further modifications of the invention have been illustrated in Figs. 24 to 27, inclusive. In Fig. 24, the door panels or members 3 are shown as having their corner portions socketed as at 98 for the reception of caster wheels 9?, the latter operating on flat surfaces provided on top and bottom guide rails shown at 98 and 98, respectively. By this construction, improved antifriction roller support is provided for each of the door panels, enabling the same to travel readily over a confined longitudinally extending course. In Fig. 24, the door panel is further shown as being provided with intermediately positioned vertically disposed posts or studs the and Edi, the studs Hi projecting upwardly into the hollow interior of the top rail 95, whereas the studs tilt project downwardly and are equipped with rollers I02 for engagement with the bottom rail as.

In Fig. 25, adjoining outer door panels 327 of two groups of said panels are shown as disposed in adjoining relationship with each other when the doorway 2 is closed thereby. These panels are provided with cradle brackets Ma, which are hinged at 33 to the door panels 32). In this instance, the lower pair of cradle brackets M-a are each provided with a track-engaging vertically turnable wheel H33 engaging the bottom rail 39. The upper pair of brackets are, as shown in Fig. 25, are provided with rollers its which operate in connection with the top rail Q3. Cables H may be connected with the bottom rollers or wheels I02 to control the movement of the panels along said rails, as shown more particularly in Figs. 26, 27 and 28. In Fig. 27, it will be noted that the bottom rail 99 is in. the form of an I beam, and the rollers of wheel it rest on the base flange of this I beam. Further, the bracket or yoke I06 which supports the rollers $592 includes a vertical stem iill which is joined with one of the brackets lsa. This stem or stems i9? is equipped with a horizontal roller H38 which engages guide strips I09 provided on the sides of the pit lining Ht. This lining carries the guide sheaves about which the cable its is trained.

While we have thus described and illustrated a number of typical modifications setting forth certain preferred forms of our invention, nevertheless, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the construction of our improved door mechanism is subject to still further modifications of a type falling within the general scope or ambit of the invention. From the description above given of the various forms of our improved mechanism, it will be clear that we have provided vertically arranged and interconnected door members mounted on wheeled studs or posts arranged contiguous to their upward and lower edges for turning movement about vertical axes, whereby when the doors are extended to assume positions of doorway closure, the maximum area of each of said door members or panels will be presented to the doorway, and, conversely, when the panels occupy their positions of doorway opening, the said panels will be folded in side by side order, wherein the same extend transversely of the doorway opening and in parallel relationship with the side wall or other member, of the building in which the doorway is formed. The door panel-s are mounted so that same are capable of turning readily about vertical supporting axes in assuming their different operating positions. Furthermore, such door axes are equipped with roller devices moving in a confined manner in longitudinally extending stationary upper and lower guides, whereby said panels are caused to travel along definite linear paths in effecting doorway opening and closure.

When the coupled door panels are being moved from their positions of doorway closure, as shown in Fig. 6, to positions of doorway opening, as indicated in Figs. '7 and 8, the outermost door panel, the one which carries the cradle bracket 44, is first moved toward the sides of the door without affecting th positions of closure of the remaining associated panels. This movement on the part of the outermost panel is continued as the same is drawn toward the side of the doorway opening until the friction plate or buifer strip 42 of the outermost panel contacts with the corresponding plate or strip of the next adjacent panel, causing movement of said next adjacent panel in unison with that of the outermost panel.

At about this time of initial movement and contact between the strips or plates 42, the runner member 36 of said next adjacent panel, which is linked as at 33 with the outermost panel carrying the cradle bracket 44, contacts the resilient abutment 39, so that through the combined action of the frictional engagement of the strips or plates 42, and the engagement of the runner member 36 with the abutment 39, said outermost panel and the next adjacent panel are caused to move together longitudinally on the supporting rails or tracks provided therefor at the top and bottom of the doorway. This action causes one panel to overlap a next adjacent panel by about one-third of its total width, and is continued from panel to panel until the runner member of the innermost panel 3a engages its abutment 39 and with the rubber strips 42 thereof in rubbing contact. Continued pulling action by the cable mechanism operates in conjunction with the pivoted arm or arms 8 to cause said panel members to turn on their vertical axes, each swinging through an arc of a little less than 90 degrees, as shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 8, so that said panel members are overlapped and disposed in parallel relationship with the side wall of the building I.

In moving the door panels to positions of doorway closure, the operation is such that each door rotates individually about its vertical axis and assumes a position almost parallel with the track before the next door panel follows suit, this action being repeated until all door panels have their spring abutments 39 engaged by the runner members 35. The runner member of the inner door 3a then passes over the abutment 39 until it reaches the outer end of its trackway 3 1, when the runner member of the door panel 3a is stopped and at the same time stopping the movement of the next adjacent panel or door member.

The construction essentially is characterized by its structural simplicity, relatively long operating life, high mechanical strength and the economy involved in its fabrication and erection. While we have described our improved door construction as being especially applicable for mounting in the doorways of airplane hangars, it will be understood that we do not limit our invention to such a specific use, but reserve the right to employ the same wherever it may be usefully adapted.

We claim:

1. Door construction comprising inner, outer and intermediate slidably related door sections adapted to occupy an associated doorway, vertically spaced upper and lower horizontally extending stationary doorway guides for said sections, rollered supports movable length-wise of said guides, pivot means uniting the central portion of each of said 'door sections at the ends thereof with said supports to effect movement of said sections in unison with said supports and to provide for turning movement of each of said sections about a central axis, lost-motion link means coupling said sections for movement along said guides, said link means providing for independent limited sliding movement of a first section before movement thereof is imparted by its link means to 'a next succeeding section, pivotal means linking the inner door section with a side of an associated doorway, and power-actuated cable means connected with said outer section for imparting, doorway opening and closing movement to said sections.

2. Folding door construction comprising: a group of door-forming members composed of an inner, an outer, and a plurality of intermediate members; stationary doorway-mounted guide means; rollered devices supporting said door members for travel longitudinally of said guide means and for turning movement about. a vertical axis passing through the central portion of each of said door members, said members when in positions of doorway closure being disposed in relatively extended parallel order and in angular relation to the vertical plane of an associated doorway; a tie means uniting the inner door member to an adjacent side of the doorway against which the members are folded in compact parallel relation when in positions of doorway opening, power driven means cooperative with said outer door member to impart back and forth longitudinal movement to said members, and lost-motion linkage means uniting said door members to each other in a manner causing said members when actuated by said power means to move initially in successive and thereafter joint order between folded positions of doorway opening and extended positions of doorway closure, said linkage means embodying a guide device extending transversely across each of said intermediate and inner panels, a runner member movable longitudinally of each guide device, and a link connection uniting each runner member with a door member disposed in immediately adjoining order to that on which the runner member is mounted.

3. In door construction; a plurality of adjacent vertically disposed substantially rectangular door members, upper and lower parallel guides stationarily mounted at the top and bottom and extending between the sides of an associated doorway; rollered means carried centrally by each of said door members and cooperative with said guides in slidably supporting said members for bodily horizontal movement across said doorway and turning movement about a vertical axis passing centrally through each of said members; means for imparting movement to said door members; and lost-motion connecting means uniting each pair of adjacent door members for limited independent horizontal sliding movement of a first door member upon initial actuating movement thereof relative to an immediately adjoining second door member and for unified turning movement thereof.

4. Door construction as specified in claim 3, and wherein said connecting means constitute the sole direct connection between each adjoining pair of said members.

5. In door construction; a plurality of vertically arranged door members; means for supporting said members for guided travel longitudinally of an associated doorway and for turning movement about a vertical axis passing through the central portion of each thereof; a longitudinally extending guide means provided horizontally across one side of each of said door members; a runner member movable longitudinally in each of said guide means; means linking the runner member of each of said door members with one edge of a next adjacent door member; an abutment carried by each of the guide means of said door members, said abutment being disposed in each of the guide means for engagement with the runner member therein following predetermined lost-motion movement of the runner member longitudinally of said guide means; and frictional contact strips carried by each of said door members, said strips being arranged for relative engagement to produce movement of said door members in unison following predetermined independent longitudinal movement of said door members with respect to each other in response to the lost-motion movement of said runner members.

6. Door mechanism of the type composed of inner, outer and intermediate rectangular door members adapted for group mounting in a doorway and for sliding movement longitudinally across said doorway and lateral turning movement about a central axis passing vertically through each of said members, said mechanism comprising: guide channel defining means extending transversely across. one side of each door member; a runner member slidably confined in each of said guide channels; connecting means uniting each of the runner members with an outer edge portion of an immediately adjacent door member; cable means joined with an outer of said door members for imparting doorway opening and closing movement to all of said members; means cooperative with the outer section, following predetermined movement of the runner member connected therewith in its guide channel, to produce longitudinal movement of a next adjacent intermediate door member in unison with said outer member and, thereafter, in progressive and successive order, to the remainder of the door members; and pivoted means directly linking the inner of said door members with an adjoining side of the doorway to produce bodily turning movement of said door members about their vertical axes when said members occupy positions of doorway opening.

7. In a folding door; a plurality of adjacent vertically arranged door panels; means supporting each of said door panels for lateral sliding movement and for turning movement about a vertical axis passing through the central portion of each of said door panels; lost-motion linkage means slidably connecting each of said door panels with a next adjacent door panel and providing for relative lateral sliding movement between adjacent door panels and unified turning movement thereof; and yieldable stop means carried by said door panels for limiting the extent of relative lateral movement therebetween.

8. In folding door construction; a plurality of adjacent vertically arranged door panels; means supporting each of said door panels for lateral sliding movement and for turning movement about a vertical axis passing through the central portion of each of said door panels; runner and guide means slidably connecting each of said door panels with a next adjacent door panel and providing for limited relative lateral sliding movement between adjacent door panels and unified turning movement thereof; and stop means carried on each of said door panels engageable with a next adjacent panel following predetermined relative sliding movement between said panels for causing said panels to slide laterally in unison.

9. In a folding door; a plurality of adjacent vertically arranged door panels; means supporting each of said door panels for lateral sliding movement relative to an associated doorway and for turning movement about substantially vertical axes passing through the central portions of said door panels; guide means carried on and extending transversely across at least one of said panels; and a runner element pivotally linked to an edge of a next adjacent door panel and slidably carried in said guide means and uniting said door panels for limited lateral sliding movement relative to one another and for unified turning movement.

FREDERICK A. GUTH. HAROLD F. GUTH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 569,937 Roof Oct. 20, 1896 1,400,080 Kopchuk Dec. 13, 1921 1,612,499 Etheredge Dec. 28, 1926 1,644,285 Smith Oct, 4, 1927 1,960,860 Allen May 29, 1934 2,075,716 Harrison Mar. 30, 1937 2,574,312 Altube Nov. 6, 1951 2,577,884 Garubo Dec. 11, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 740,880 France Nov. 22, 1932 757,801 France Oct. 16, 1933 540,916 Great Britain Nov. 5, 1941 

